, 1887-12-18

doctors came; he must have died in
stantly."
mo, he died in my armsI'' Eva said
with n sob; 81 remember he gave one
gasp as ! took him up. Oh, my babyl
my babyi'' and she broke forth again
into piteous sobs, and rising, started to
leave the room.
zone moment, please" Clarice said,
again OBTAINING her; "let me 90 first.
He was asleep a few moments ago, and
the doctor left orders that he must not
be disturbed"
She left the room, and in a few mo-
ments returned and motioned Eva to fol-
lew her.
"Be as calm as possible, dear, " Clarice
whispered as she left her. AS the door
closed softly behind her friend, Eva stood
still n moment at her husbands bedside.
His head wa well covered with bandages,
c~oncealing the ugly wounds beneath, the
eyes were closed and his face wore the
pallor of death. Her heart grew faint
within her; surely he would die, if not
already dead; and every unkind word
she had spoken rose up before her like
avenging spirits. How all the old love
revived with tenfold power! He had
never, even in their happiest days, seemed
so ineXprcssibly lear as at that momenti
Oh, if God would but spare him, a life
time of devotion should atone for all past
unkindness.
A quick sob broke from hsr, notwith-
standing her efforts of self control.
Richards eyes Enclosed and with a faint
smile he held out his hand to her. Drop
ping on her knees by the side of the bed
she laid her head beside his ON the pillow,
while his arm was passed fondly about
her.
''Oh, Dick, forgive MEL she sobbed,
forgetting all her caution. 81 shall never
forgive myself; I'll never speak an unkind
word again, never, never, while / livel''
The sentences were broken and disjointed,
uttered amidst sobs and tears.
There, there, dear" Richard said,
gently, as he drew her face closer to him
and kissed her tenderly. Then, with a
noble generosity, which seems a part of
some mems natures, he added kindly: 81
was to blame; l should have been more
thoughtful; l ought to nave taken you
out instead Of going off alone for my own
pleasure. We will begin anew, now
He stopped, unable to finish the sem
tence.
"Yes, 1 know! Harry is dead. Oh,
my babyl my babyl' she sobbed.
Richards lips quivered and the heavy
eyelids were pressed upon the pallid
checks to repress the starting tears He
drew her closely toward him and ten
derby pressed her tear stained cheek
against his own in mute sympathy, but
could utter nc word.
How very, very dear his beautiful boy
had been to the young father, nom but
God might know.
For n long time they were very quiet,
Eva's sobs alone breaking the stiffness,
until at last those ceased and Richard
said softly:
"Evvie!"
Eyes, deari'
How many long months had passed
since she had heard the dear old pet
namo from his lips! How many more
since h had spoken n endearing word
to himi The sound of them now carried
them back to the old, happy days before
harsh words had been spoken or unkind
feelings held sway.
"What do you wish, dearp' Eva
asked, waiting a IN for her hus-
bands request.
"Harry"-his lips trembled-he could
not go on.
Eyes, dear, :" Eva said softly, divining
intuitively, in her new found sympathy
with her husband, the wish he could not
express.
Rising quietly, she passed out of the
ROOM. In n few minutes she returned,
bearing the dead babe in her arms.
AL the violence of her grief seemed
hushed into stiffness in the presence of
death.
Seating herself on the side of the bed,
she turned her precious burden tenderly
until the fathers eye could rest on its
face, his hands touch it without change
of position.
Never in the full flush of health and
~infantile beauty had their boy looked
more lovely than now, as, robed for the
grave, he lay in his mothers arms. The
fatal wound had been deity concealed,
and the locks of hair fell over the white
forehead in soft, curling rings; the long
lashes of the blue veined lids lay lightly
on the fair, round cheek; the sweet
curved lips just parted with a smile, and
the pretty dimpled hands were crossed on
the l~ifeless breast.
Too fair and beautiful he seemed for
the coffin, the cold, dark grave.
The white lips of the young father
%quivered, and the large tears forced their
way from beneath the trembling eyelids,
as he laid his hand on the head of his
darling boy. Then his hand fell softly
upon Eva's with a gentle, loving clasp.
"Our darling Harry is safe in a better
world, 3" he said at last, in a voice broken
by emotion. "And let us, dear, make
his death the beginning of a new life of
thoughtfulness and forbearance each to-
ward the other"
And Eva, touching her lips with tender
reverence to the fair, cold forehead of
her darling, said softly:
"God being my helper, 1 will provo
that the death of my precious boy has not
been in vain."
Weather and Temper.
The typical November day is one on